Uulzana from Kyrgyzstan currently studies at a United World College in Armenia on a full scholarship. She is actively involved in school committees and communities, and thanks her experience with FLEX for making her the student she is today.

From Talas to California

Hi, I am Uulzana! I'm from Kyrgyzstan, from the small village of Talas, where I studied in a public school until 8th grade. When the time came for me to start high school, I realized I wanted to study abroad. I’ve never travelled outside my region, but I wanted to talk with people from different cultures and countries. There were no such opportunities in my country, and international schools weren’t affordable for my parents. Knowing this, I began searching for programs, especially those in the USA, because I really liked watching American movies. Then one day, my sister told me about FLEX.

What is FLEX?

FLEX is a program sponsored by the USA Department of State and administered by the American Council. It is an opportunity for students from 18 countries in Europe and Eurasia to attend high school in the USA for a year. It’s a full sponsor, so everything is free: living, food, flight tickets, tuition, apart from the visa processing fees and your personal expenses. You are matched with a host family in one of the US states, where you will enroll in the state’s high school. I was assigned to a high school in California. You don’t really get to state your preferences for which state you’ll get sent to. This is based on your essays and your application profile.

Application Process

In Kyrgyzstan, there are usually around 4000 applicants a year, and from that pool, 40-50 are chosen as finalists. I would say the application process is quite lengthy: there are three rounds spanning over four months. The first round includes the online application form, where you write three essays about your life, how you overcame challenges, and your motivation for being a FLEX finalist. The second round is a pretty straightforward 15-minute English test you complete online. For the third round, you go to a specific place in your region for two days to take another English test. They really test your English skills because you are applying for an American high school, and you need to know the language well. Along with the tests, there were group games and activities to evaluate your social skills and sportsmanship.

Advice on Essays and Interview

FLEX, at its core, is a leadership program. A majority of the essay prompts are centered around what leadership skills you have and how you developed them. During the third round, applicants write three more essays on the spot in an allotted time of 45 minutes. In my opinion, it’s hard to produce three good essays in a short amount of time, especially under stressful conditions. My advice is to prepare in advance. If you search online, you will find hundreds of essay prompts, and if you practice even a couple in advance, you will get an idea of what your answers will look like. It really helps to be prepared before the actual round because it will help you to be quicker when writing the essay as well.

The interview is the most important part. This is where you show your personality and your communication skills. I had a native English speaker and someone who spoke my native language who alternated asking questions in both languages. Here, I especially want to emphasize authenticity. Be honest in your answers throughout the application process. The acceptance rate is approximately 2%, so you might feel there are stronger applicants than you, and it becomes tempting to exaggerate or lie about your skills or achievements in the written part of the application. But the selection committee and the interviewers can tell whether you have faked things or not because they’ve interviewed so many students. Also, relax, and remember they are just people like you. For example, I pretended I was having a chat with my friends, which reduced my anxiety a lot.

Grades, Extracurriculars & Awards

My academic-focused school didn’t offer many opportunities for activities, so my only extracurricular activity was volunteering. My 1-year-long volunteer work involved cleaning areas around my school and providing community service to homeless people. One thing to note is that I was very active in school activities, which helped because FLEX focused on leadership and service. What my teachers wrote about me in my recommendation letters matched what the program was looking for.

As for grades, I achieved straight As throughout my school life. A component of my profile that I think was most impressive was my silver medal in the National Biology Olympiad. My participation in these Olympiads earned me honours and certificates. Overall, I would say my profile is more academic-oriented.

Life in an American High School

When I came to the USA, the first thing I struggled with was culture shock. Everyone around me was so open-minded, talking to absolute strangers like they were best friends. In Asian culture, we usually keep more to ourselves. I thought a lot about how I could be like them, scared that I won’t fit in, and questioned myself why I am even here. I talked to my host family about this, who encouraged me to talk more. Leaving Kyrgyzstan, I was a shy, introverted girl, but leaving California, I was extroverted and much more comfortable in my own skin.

There were also noticeable differences in the education system, the American one being fairly easier. Due to my language barrier when I first arrived, my principal allowed me to take easier classes. I didn’t do any AP classes or pre-calculus courses. Instead, I took six classes, with the usual core subjects like Math and English, as well as unique ones like Yoga, Dance, and Photography. I would have never had the opportunity to study these fun subjects back home, so I was really grateful and enjoyed every moment.

Apply to FLEX!

Yes, that’s what I would like to say to all future applicants. FLEX gave me so many life lessons: learning to be independent, to live without my parents in a whole different world, and how to save money and use money wisely. It also improved my social skills, which helped me when I started studying at UWC. I already knew how to adjust to an unfamiliar environment and create relationships with people.

Friendships, in my opinion, are the most valuable thing I got from FLEX. When I flew back home, I missed my American friends and my host family. The family I stayed with had multiple children of their own, and I remember the days when we would all sit at dinner together like a big family. The friendships you make are also the ones you can go to anytime you have questions about applying to college or need life advice.

My exchange year was wonderful, and FLEX is the best program ever. My recommendation is: apply!